A World War II veteran who formed his own church, Victor Cruz is remembered as a generous father, husband and neighbor who left a legacy of hard work and love for his family.

“He was a faithful person ... and touched a lot of people's lives.” his son Victor said.

He died Wednesday in San Antonio at the age of 93, four days shy of his 94th birthday.

Born the son of a tenant farmer in Taylor, Cruz began working on the farm at a young age with his brothers and sisters.

Cruz later left home with his two brothers to clear land for a government project, including the Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico. He joined the Army in 1940 and was stationed in Seattle with the Army Medical Corps. Cruz delivered messages and packages between bases in Seattle and New York.